World leaders reacted to the sweeping tariffs President Donald Trump released this week impacting essentially every U.S. trading partner. 

The White House has implemented a flat 10% tariff on apparently all imports, though some nations saw drastically higher taxes slapped on their U.S. exports – including Vietnam, which was issued a 46% tariff one day after it slashed its tariffs on U.S. imports.

However, no nation was handed a higher import tax than China, which Trump revealed will have an additional 34% blanket tariff on its exports to the U.S. on top of the 20% tariff the president implemented earlier this year. This brings the total tariffs on Chinese goods imported into the U.S. to 54% – just shy of the 60% Trump pledged on the campaign trail.

President Donald Trump holds a chart as he delivers remarks on reciprocal tariffs during an event in the Rose Garden entitled “Make America Wealthy Again” at the White House in Washington, D.C., on April 2, 2025. (Getty Images)

MEXICO – 25% tariffs

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said she will “announce a comprehensive program” to address Trump’s tariffs but will not engage in a “tit-for-tat on tariffs.”

Sheinbaum said she plans to “strengthen the economy under any circumstance.” 

JAPAN – 24%

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said, “We’re putting all options on the table in considering the most effective response.”

“Japan is a country that is making the largest amount of investment to the United States,” he reportedly told his Parliament. “We wonder if it makes sense for (Washington) to apply uniform tariffs to all countries. That is a point we’ve been making and will continue to do so. 

“We need to consider what’s best for Japan’s national interest,” he added, without detailing what specific steps Tokyo could take.

AUSTRALIA – 10%

Though Australia was among the nations hit with some of the lowest tariffs issued by the White House on Wednesday, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese called them “totally unwarranted.”

“President Trump referred to reciprocal tariffs. A reciprocal tariff would be zero, not 10%,” he said at a press event. “The administration’s tariffs have no basis in logic, and they go against the basis of our two nation’s partnership.”

“This is not the act of a friend,” Albanese said.

Albanese pointed out that Americans will pay the heaviest price for the tariffs and said therefore he will not put reciprocal tariffs back on the U.S. 

“We will not join the race to the bottom,” he added, but pledged to continue to fight to have the tariffs removed.